MIN gets a small upgrade this year, and perhaps a mentor for Rubio, at the cost of $3 mil to Taylor. Next season, Barea and Ridnour's deals are off the books to create cap space. Maybe we re-sign Calderon on a reasonable deal, or else sign some other back-up PG which we'd get cheap (the NBA is full of them). DET 2nd could be decent.

TOR moves unhappy Calderon, and gets a good back-up 2 on a reasonable price to play behind Lowry. Maybe Daye gets it in a new home, but even if he doesn't, he's an expiring. TOR adds a well-priced TPE for next year too.

DET really needs a back-up PG, and a guy to mentor Brandon Knight. Many DET fans like Ridnour.

Isn't bringing in another slight, pass-first PG a bit redundant? Granted, Calderon is a much better shooter than Rubio... but I'd like to leverage Ridnour/Barea/others to get a more dynamic player in the backcourt.

I still don't see enough guys who can create back there. And, Calderon won't solve that...

He really isn't a renowned defender especially when matched up against the opponents starting 2. Remember when Calderon got posted up by Barea? One of Barea's career highlights right there. Offensively I'm sure he'd thrive. He gets a lot of his points from outside and that's kind of a huge hole that we have. He's pretty versatile, so I'll say sure.

Well we'd need to make sure we have a back up PG on the roster next year. We may not be able to resign Calderon to a deal that makes sense for a back up. For that reason, I see this merely as a salary dump of either Barea's or Ridnour's contracts. If we're doing that, let's move one of those guys for a position of need for the rest of the year instead, i.e. a wing player.

Krapinsky wrote:Well we'd need to make sure we have a back up PG on the roster next year. We may not be able to resign Calderon to a deal that makes sense for a back up.

In today's NBA population, there are plenty of back-up PG's out there, in trade and in free agency. If there was one position I wouldn't be worried about filling, it's back-up PG.

Few teams have back up point guards better than the Wolves and a really bad set of back up point guards can really hamstring a team. The most extreme example is the current Lakers with Blake, Duhon, and Morris. There's a big drop off from Barea/Ridnour to Blake/Duhon/CJ Watson/Nolan Smith/AJ Price/etc.

Krapinsky wrote:Well we'd need to make sure we have a back up PG on the roster next year. We may not be able to resign Calderon to a deal that makes sense for a back up.

In today's NBA population, there are plenty of back-up PG's out there, in trade and in free agency. If there was one position I wouldn't be worried about filling, it's back-up PG.

Few teams have back up point guards better than the Wolves and a really bad set of back up point guards can really hamstring a team. The most extreme example is the current Lakers with Blake, Duhon, and Morris. There's a big drop off from Barea/Ridnour to Blake/Duhon/CJ Watson/Nolan Smith/AJ Price/etc.

Believe me, I know the names of the teams that can really use a back-up PG. With nothing to do in the trade department for four months, the only entertainment I could derive was from looking at moving either Ridnour or Barea. And in a lot of cases, I got shot down because other options are out there.

Sure, the Lakers need an upgrade, and there are some other teams as well that I've experimented with. On the other hand, many teams have starting PG's and back-ups that are worthy of starting, so they make the back-up market bigger. Other teams can't address a back-up PG problem because of finances, so that put more back-up PG's on the market. Also, there have been a lot of PG's that have just entered the NBA, so they create more PG's in general in the population, and as they develop, they get more minutes and again push more players into back-up PG roles.

Anyway, the upswing here is that while I agree that teams exist that need back-up PGs, there are a lot in the NBA population too. Because there are so many, I don't worry about finding one, and I like the idea that because there are so many, a new one won't cost too much either.

shrink wrote:Believe me, I know the names of the teams that can really use a back-up PG. With nothing to do in the trade department for four months, the only entertainment I could derive was from looking at moving either Ridnour or Barea. And in a lot of cases, I got shot down because other options are out there.

Sure, the Lakers need an upgrade, and there are some other teams as well that I've experimented with. On the other hand, many teams have starting PG's and back-ups that are worthy of starting, so they make the back-up market bigger. Other teams can't address a back-up PG problem because of finances, so that put more back-up PG's on the market. Also, there have been a lot of PG's that have just entered the NBA, so they create more PG's in general in the population, and as they develop, they get more minutes and again push more players into back-up PG roles.

Anyway, the upswing here is that while I agree that teams exist that need back-up PGs, there are a lot in the NBA population too. Because there are so many, I don't worry about finding one, and I like the idea that because there are so many, a new one won't cost too much either.

Perhaps you're just more optimistic than me then. I'm not too comfortable opening up a hole on the roster, because I'm not confident that hole will be easily filled. If that were the case for everyone the Lakers wouldnt be looking at Jannero Pargo right now. I also look at the PG's in the NBA and I don't think too many teams have a luxury of point guards like the Wolves do (so there will just have to disagree).

I just think if we're moving one of those guys -- and there are enough teams that need an upgrade at PG -- then we should be trading one of them for an upgrade at SG not ANOTHER PG that will hardly play when we already have Rubio and Barea or Ridnour. In other words, we should be able to do better than this deal.

I'm very on board with moving Roy and Ridnour for Calderon (assuming the numbers work), but I'm not there on giving up both Ridnour and Barea unless we were able to also gain another asset in the deal. Flipping only Ridnour and Roy's contract clearly doesn't eliminate our glut of PGs, but it does allow us to deal Calderon or Barea for another asset for either this season or the future. I don't know that Calderon and Ricky are best of friends, but they play the same position and Calderon wants to start - which he will never do here. Even if Calderon agreed to come off the bench, he would also have to agree to play for close to what Barea's earning which is doubtful. All that being said - if we're moving one of our PGs, it needs to be for expiring income, a more affordable (yet functional) PG, a 1st rounder or a SG that can contribute immediately. Any deal giving us just Calderon is basically just a salary dump and I feel both Ridnour and Barea are move valuable than a salary dump.

Well, as a spaniard I appreciate Calderon, I've seen him play many times with the Raptors and the spanish national team, but he is essentially Luke with a better 3-point shot, not much of a difference.If it makes sense from a cap salary perspective, then may be a good deal, but it won't be a huge upgrade. I've seen Calderon play many times in the NT, and he can also be a good pick and roll player, something he doesn't show much with the Raptors.I wouldn't worry too much with the impact in the locker room and relationship with Ricky, Jose has been waiting for Ricky to take the starting spot in the NT for some time already, only injuries have delayed it. Jose is a great person and locker room guy,also great professional, and he also is the kind of person that will stay in a team if he feels comfortable in the environment, not putting money before all.I hope it happens so I get to see two spaniards playing for the wolves every night, you essentially will have the best 2 spanish point guards. Now trade with the Rockets for Sergio Llull rights and you may have the three of them

only he is essentially Luke with better 3-point shot ? he is a play maker first, muchhhhh better court vision and pass,maybe a little bit worse 2pt shot I do think it would be a great upgrade for MIN (if he stays healthy).

I am not a fan of these small upgrades. Breaking good relations in the locker room, possibly good friendships for a small individial quality upgrade could possibly mean downgrade. Trade only if there's a big quality difference.